Day: April 26, 2022

Luanda – The Economic Commission of the Council of Ministers Tuesday in Luanda assessed a draft law amending the Industrial Tax Code, regarding the industrial tax rate on incidental services provided by non-residents to entities residing in Angola.

According to the proposal, considered in a session led by the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, the tax will rise from 15% to 6.5%, with a view to stimulating Gross Domestic Product (GDP), promotion of private investment with legal security and fiscal stability.

In the 4th ordinary meeting of the auxiliary organ of the President of the Republic, the Legal Regime of Social Protection of Workers with suspended or terminated contract was also approved, a contributive regime of optional nature.

The law aims to extend the personal coverage of Mandatory Social Protection to people who no longer meet the conditions to be covered by one of the mandatory social protection regimes, namely Angolan citizens in a situation of inactivity or residing abroad and also Angolan workers in a situation of international mobility.

In the area of the economy, the Economic Commission assessed the performance of macroeconomic variables in the first quarter of the current year, and found that the macroeconomic stability that the country is experiencing has allowed for the gradual recovery of national economic activity.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

Luanda – The Economic Commission of the Council of Ministers on Tuesday in Luanda approved a memorandum that describes the national forestry sector, highlighting aspects related to the main areas of activity, namely its potential and management model.

The relevant institutions, the legal policy framework, human, financial and asset resources, forestry, inspection, as well as the circulation and sale of forestry products, are part of the memorandum being considered at the fourth ordinary meeting of the commission, headed by the President of the Republic, João Lourenço.

The document addresses the progress of the sector over the years, portraying the pressure that the exploitation and export of wood exerts on national forests, a situation that requires the implementation of short, medium and long term measures, with the aim of strengthening the actions underway under the Plan of Measures to Improve Management of Forest Resources.

Amongst the short term measures are the maintenance of the ban on export of roundwood, in order to encourage its local transformation with the creation of added value and more jobs, the approval of the Special Career Regime for Forest, Wildlife and Apiculture Surveillance and respective Remuneration Statute, to value this staff, according to the communiqué from the meeting.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

**Goma, 25 April 2022 ** – “I work at the border, exactly at the barrier,” explains Ms Mweze, who works with the Congolese immigration services at the Grande Barrière in Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, right at the border of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with Rwanda.

The close to 90-million people nation is bordered by nine countries: Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, the United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. As such, immigration agents like Ms Mweze are essential for ensuring that COVID-19 preventive measures are observed.

North Kivu – one of the country’s 26 provinces – has over 10 million inhabitants. It shares borders with Rwanda and Uganda, as well as nine official points of entry. Prior to the pandemic, an average of 95,000 people used these points to cross the border between Rwanda and DR Congo each day.

“We are in touch with people on a daily basis, which exposes us to all sorts of diseases. Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 was a priority,” Ms Mweze explains.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic coupled with recurrent Ebola outbreaks, disease surveillance measures have been put in place at points of entry in North Kivu by the National Programme for Border Hygiene (PNHF) with support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to prevent, detect and control the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

The rollout of COVID-19 vaccination in North Kivu started in May 2021 and targeted health-care workers and people aged 18 and over. Out of the 170 COVID-19 vaccination sites planned by Government authorities in the province, 137 had been operational up until this February, yet none at the busy points of entry in North Kivu.

To fill this gap, the Ministry of Health, with IOM’s technical support, set up temporary vaccination sites at points of entry to better reach communities living along the border who didn’t have access to the vaccination programme until then.

Each vaccination site comprises a waiting and registration area, a pre-vaccination consultation area, a vaccine administration area and a post-vaccination observation area, and each team includes two doctors, two nurses and two data officers, as well as a team leader.

IOM is also supporting the provision of medical supplies and personal protection equipment, including surgical masks, examination gloves and fluid resistant isolation gowns, and IT Equipment such as tablets, laptops and internet modems.

In addition, IOM has been strengthening the capacities of frontline health workers and other staff in support of the country’s Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI). The activities include training sessions on vaccine safety, monitoring and management of adverse events following immunizations (AEFI), and risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) techniques related to COVID-19 vaccination.

The ongoing vaccination campaign targets migrants, national and international travellers, frontline workers and local communities living along Grande Barrière, including small business owners at risk of COVID-19 infection due to high cross-border mobility.

Ms Mweze is one of the over 1,000 people who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in a little over a month at the vaccination site at Grand Barrière, DRC’s point of entry with the highest number of people crossing in a day.

“It was clean, quick and painless,” she says. “I am hypertensive, so they took extra precautions before vaccinating me. I felt like I was in good hands.”

The success of the joint efforts of DRC’s health services and programmes showcased the need for a multisectoral and coordinated approach that would increase vaccination coverage and reduce the mismatch between demand and supply of COVID-19 vaccination services.

IOM plans to support the provision of COVID-19 vaccination to other communities along the borders as well as the set-up of a similar vaccination site at Goma’s International Airport.

To boost vaccine demand, IOM is also supporting a national awareness-raising campaign, which allows those living around points of entry and along the border to provide feedback on the response.

A recent survey conducted by the Ministry of Health with support from IOM showed that roughly 66 per cent of those passing through the point of entry at Grande Barrière had received at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. According to the same survey, more than half of the travellers who had not been vaccinated against COVID-19 were willing to get vaccinated.

“We have noticed a huge increase in travellers interested in getting vaccinated here,” says Dr Gervais Kakule, Team Lead Physician at the vaccination site at the Grande Barrière in Goma. “More and more people these days are aware about the dangers of COVID-19 and the benefits of getting vaccinated.”

With COVID-19 still rampant in DRC and beyond, Ms Mweze thinks it’s imperative to prioritize our health and that of our loved ones. “I wanted to get vaccinated because I need to protect myself and my family,” she says.

“The pandemic is not over yet. You can still catch it at church, at the market – wherever there are lots of people. We all need to do our part and get vaccinated,” Ms Mweze explains.

Source: International Organization for Migration

Luanda – Angola and the United States of America (USA) Tuesday in Luanda analysed the state of bilateral cooperation in several areas.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Relations (Mirex), the two countries are experiencing a good period of exchange in their bilateral relations, which cover the various areas of political, diplomatic, economic, social and cultural life.

During the audience that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Teté António, granted to the US ambassador, Tulinabo S. Mushingo, the strategy to deepen other areas of cooperation was discussed, besides the exchange of visits, of the highest level, to take place during the current economic year.

The US ambassador to Angola took the opportunity to announce the forthcoming visit to Angola of Wendy Sherman, US Assistant Secretary of State and Molly Phee, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs.

Angola is the third largest US trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa, mainly due to oil exports.

Trade between Angola and the United States of America reached around USD 1.4 billion by November 2019.

In 2019, imports from the US totalled USD 488 million, with chicken and various meats standing out, with a value of USD143 million, followed by the heavy machinery parts sector, with USD 59 million, aircraft engines and other products (about USD 33 million).

The remainder was used to import filters, parts, moulds, plastics and other products.

Promoting the country’s non-oil resources and attracting foreign direct investment are the main pillars that have guided cooperation within the framework of economic diplomacy advocated by the Angolan government.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

2021 Highlights

WFP continued to prioritise technical assistance and services to the Government, supporting national partners in their efforts to achieve zero hunger.

WFP provided regular food assistance for refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo, residing in the north of Angola.

WFP started emergency nutrition interventions in the drought-affected south, providing treatment for approximately 4,900 children aged 24 – 59 months.

Source: World Food Programme

Abuja, 26 April, 2022 – Cuddling his 14-week-old daughter, who had received the scheduled childhood vaccines, Mr Aliyu Fawaz Bello, an architect and father of four residing in Abuja, said he always ensures that his children never miss a required vaccine dose.

Mr Bello was at the government-run Family Health Municipal Clinic in Abuja to support his wife to present their daughter to receive her 3rd dose of oral polio vaccine (OPV3), the Pentavalent (Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis B and Hib) and Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV).

He said “it is the duty of parents to ensure that their household receives vaccinations so that the nation will continue to have healthy and brighter children.

“A father has to ensure they receive all immunization schedules for children as the vaccines protect children against diseases such as measles, yellow fever, meningitis, polio and vitamin A will help strengthen their eyes.

“Vaccines protect, build immunity, and help in boosting and strengthening the immune system of people who receive them. My workplace has been very supportive as I take permission on days my children are to receive their immunization,” he said.

For Osas Onaghinon, getting her 15 months’ daughter, Esther, to the clinic whenever she is due for vaccination, is one of her top priorities.

“I take her vaccination schedules seriously and note the vaccines she has received and those she is due to receive. To protect the health of our children, many parents need to develop a welcoming attitude towards vaccines and make them compulsory for their children,” she said.

Protection guaranteed

Vaccines are among the greatest scientific innovations and have brought the world closer to ending diseases such as polio.

To underscore the importance of vaccines, the officer in charge, Mrs Obuba Horsefall of Family Health Municipal Clinic, Abuja said the facility provides regular routine immunization for children to protect them from deadly vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, Yellow fever, meningitis. At the clinic, adults also receive tetanus and COVID-19 vaccination for adults and mothers.

“The one-stop-shop for mothers and babies makes it a win-win situation as they can receive their shots and protects the community at large,” she said.

Supporting immunization

WHO marks the World Immunization Week (24–30 April 2022) to reinforce the importance of equitable and expanded access to vaccines, to contribute to a long and healthy life for everyone.

“With the theme of this year’s commemoration – Long life for all, the World/Africa Immunization Week aims to spread the message about the significance of immunization, and how it prevents the onset of various infectious diseases,” said the WHO Country Representative (WR), Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo.

“The theme reinforces that vaccines make it possible for us to follow our dreams, protect our loved ones and live a long, healthy life”, he said.

WHO Nigeria has continued to work with the government to raise awareness on the value of vaccines and immunization and ensure that Nigeria obtains the necessary guidance and technical support to implement high-quality immunization programmes.

“The immunization programme also helps identify vulnerable children who have never received vaccination doses (zero dose children), and those who have had only partial vaccine doses by health systems and brings them life-saving care. Also, WHO has been supporting the government to facilitate the planning and equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines received through the COVAX facility,” WR said.

The ultimate goal of World Immunization Week is for more people – and their communities – to be protected from vaccine-preventable diseases.

Support for Immunization activities in Nigeria through WHO is made possible by funding from the Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Department for International Development (DFID – UK), European Union, Government of Germany through KfW Bank, Global Affairs Canada, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Rotary International and the World Bank.

Source: World Health Organization. Africa

Abuja, 26 April, 2022 – The World Health Organization (WHO) has kicked off a five-day workshop on 25 April 2002 in Abuja for public health officials to strengthen the capacities to integrate oral cholera vaccination (OCV) into the emergency and preventive measures in some Anglophone Cholera Priority countries in Africa.

With participants from six countries – Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, South Sudan, Uganda and the host country, Nigeria – the training aligns with ‘Ending Cholera: A Global Road Map to 2030; and is intended for individuals that will be involved in the planning and implementation of OCV campaigns.

Speaking at the opening of the hybrid (online and physical) training, Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said the training is a welcome development as a prelude to equitable access to the OCV vaccine and another step towards the goal of better health for all.

Dr Ehanire, while appreciating WHO for the initiative, implored participants to make the best use of the opportunity and put in their best to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to use the vaccine to eliminate cholera as a recurrent health problem in Africa.

The minister said that while traditional measures for cholera prevention and control have been to provide potable water and improve hygiene and sanitation, science has, however, over the years, risen to the task, with the development of the oral cholera vaccine, now certified as effective enough to be recommended for disease prevention and control

“I commend WHO for this laudable and desirable initiative, a tool for prevention and control of cholera outbreaks, which has for some time now, become a recurrent seasonal public health challenge in many Low and lower-middle-income countries, like ours, despite efforts to control it, he said.

In his remark, the WHO Country Representative, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, said that the training provides the opportunity for knowledge sharing among organizations and the multiple country participants.

According to him, WHO is cognizant of the need to implement quality campaigns and the operational challenges in different contexts. Working in line with the preparedness for future campaigns, the recently approved GTFCC application for Nigeria with approximately 9million doses of OCV to implement two campaigns in 14 LGAs in 9 states, including the Federal Capital Territory, would significantly mitigate the risk of an upsurge of cholera cases during this raining season.

“We believe that the vast experience built-in Nigeria over the years in implementing mass vaccination campaigns will come to bear, as we prepare for these preventive campaigns.

Who looks forward to the outputs of this training and assure you of WHO Nigeria’s support to the Government of Nigeria in implementing the NCP (when finalized), including ensuring quality vaccination campaigns while also monitoring and evaluating the implementation of this plan”, he said.

Training objective

The WHO OCV focal point, Malika Bouhenia highlighted the delays in implementation of vaccination campaigns which have been identified to be due to capacity gaps in countries, adequate Human resources and knowledge around what mechanisms to access the vaccines. This training was planned to try to address some of these gaps across all endemic countries.

Meanwhile, Vincent Sodjinou Dossou, WHO Africa Region, said the of the training is to improve on the gaps identified during the 2021 annual Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC) stakeholder meeting.

He noted that it would enable countries to be better prepared to request, plan and implement quality campaigns with OCV as part of their national Cholera control plans and further contribute to the long-term goal of Ending Cholera by 2030.

Historically, WHO African Region Member States, including Nigeria, have experienced several cholera outbreaks characterized by high case fatality rates and vaccination against cholera is increasingly used as additional control measures for the prevention and the control of cholera outbreaks since 2013.

Participating countries at the end of this training will be expected to be better equipped to prepare ICG requests for oral cholera vaccines as well as GTFCC applications for preventive oral cholera vaccines.

The Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC) is a global network of organizations that brings together partners involved in the fight against cholera across all sectors, offering an effective country-driven platform that promotes a multi-sectoral, well-coordinated approach.

Source: World Health Organization. Africa